Sports Direct‘s Irish expansion plans fall flat

Sports Direct has reportedly missed out on a chance to expand in Ireland after Debenhams‘ parent company was selected as the chosen bidder for its own business‘ Irish arm.

According to the Irish Independent, Sport Direct boss Mike Ashley was the other “serious bidder” for the department chain‘s 11 Irish stores, which recently underwent examinership under Kieran Wallace of KPMG.

Ashley – who also owns Newcastle United plus a 10.5 per cent stake in the Debanhams group –has looking to expand his business in the Irish republic after acquiring Heatons and the former Boyers store in Dublin earlier this year.